UCF football's preseason camp opened with more questions than answers compared to last season, but players are resolute about building on the program's recent success.

"I feel like last year's first day, we were kind of ... I don't want to say we were slow, but we were still trying to get a feel for it. But as far as this year, I feel like there was a lot of energy. ... We still have a lot to work on as the days go on," junior defensive lineman Miles Pace said. "Everybody wants to keep it consistent [so people] don't think we're a one-hit wonder. We want to keep the tradition going. ... We want to experience that again."

Despite the prominent losses of quarterback Blake Bortles, running back Storm Johnson and three offensive linemen, the Knights have a slew of experienced athletes on the roster. There are 20 seniors on the roster this season compared to last year's seven. And Pace is one of nine returning defensive starters.

That level of experience, in part, fueled what players believe was a productive first day of preseason camp and the first step toward repeating as the American Athletic Conference champions.

"[It] was definitely a good first day," senior linebacker Terrance Plummer said. "Of course there were a lot of mistakes with the quarterback-center exchange and all those types of things, jumping at the ball. We have to work better to be more disciplined as a team because working on the small things help down the road."

Perfecting the small things will be imperative during preseason camp as the coaches work to identify a starting quarterback and set their five-man offensive line.

UCF coach George O'Leary said he moved Torrian Wilson back to left tackle after experimenting with him as a left guard. Tarik Cook played center in practice on Thursday as Joey Grant continued to recover from an earlier injury. Grant is expected to return to full-contact practice in the second week of August. Coaches won't have a better feel for the offensive line until the team starts practicing in pads Saturday.

And the quarterback fight raged on Thursday as coaches got their first glimpse of Boise State transfer and Orlando native Nick Patti working out with the team. Patti, a redshirt sophomore, is competing with Justin Holman, Pete DiNovo and Tyler Harris for the starting role.

"I think he's a very fluid quarterback watching him," O'Leary said of Patti. "They all seemed to throw the ball fairly well today, but it's a matter of when they start. I always judge it when the pressure is on those kids [and] how they react when you start putting some dogs on them and seeing how they have to react."

O'Leary wants to keep a close watch on the quarterbacks' development. He hasn't set a hard deadline for picking a starter yet, but he closed practice to the public and media for first week of camp to evaluate them without any distractions.

"I'll let you know when I feel comfortable with somebody," O'Leary said. "It's not a big secret. Everybody's trying to get a jump on it. My wife is gonna be the first to know, she's out-of-state so good luck."

The starting quarterback question will likely be answered soon, along with identifying a role for 22-year-old freshman receiver Jordan Akins. Coaches and players raved about Akins' size, athleticism and maturity.

Although Akins is a freshman, the former minor league baseball player is one of the many experienced athletes on the Knights' roster. He is expected to add leadership to a team outsiders still consider an underdog.

"I think he's gonna be tremendous because he's older, he's wise enough to understand what's going on and he's not so young to where you have to be around him all the time," senior receiver J.J. Worton said . "He's gonna be a great help."